Officers who misuse weapons will be dismissed, prosecuted — IGP Disu

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned that officers who misuse firearms will face immediate dismissal and prosecution, declaring an end to impunity within the Nigeria Police Force.

Disu issued the warning on Thursday in Uyo during the passing-out ceremony of 1,068 retrained constables at the Police Mobile Force Base 26.

Addressing the officers, the IGP said the retraining programme marked a significant shift toward professionalism, stressing that the era of reckless conduct must end.

Reiterating his national broadcast of April 29, 2026, he stated: “Impunity ends now. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted. Not transferred. Not queried. Not redeployed. No badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice.”

He emphasised that firearms must only be used as a last resort and strictly in line with Force Order 237, warning that any violation would attract severe consequences.

The police chief also cautioned against extortion, reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol, and the reckless handling of weapons, noting that offenders would face both administrative and criminal sanctions.

According to him, “the real examination begins tomorrow, when you return to the streets,” urging the newly retrained officers to uphold discipline, professionalism, and respect for citizens.

Disu further commended the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for pioneering the retraining of female officers in arms handling, stating that competence in policing is not defined by gender.

In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Mohammed Azare, said some of the retrained personnel would serve in the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit aimed at tackling violent crimes across the state.

He also highlighted operational achievements, including the safe evacuation of explosives at the Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre and the rescue of kidnapped victims along the Calabar–Oron waterways.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to community policing and urged residents to support law enforcement by providing timely and credible information, assuring that complaints of misconduct would be investigated.